Renal angiography in potential living related renal donors in Iraq

Between July 1983 and March 1986, 160 potential living related renal donors underwent renal angiography. One hundred and twenty-eight have (Group 1) and 32 have not (Group 2) become renal donors. The addition of selective renal angiography did not alter the pre-operative arterial prediction made on flush aortography in 102 of 109 renal donors who had both investigations. At surgery, nine of the 13 unexpected arterial findings were in patients who had both forms of angiography. Complications of angiography in 16 patients (11%) included failed groin puncture (two), groin haematoma (eight), haematocoele (one) and loin pain (five). Three patients had renal artery damage detected at surgery, one of which resulted in graft loss. The arterial anatomy demonstrated was similar in 22 of the 23 patients in Group 2 who had flush and selective angiography. One patient (3%) developed a small groin haematoma. Forty-six patients (29%) had multiple renal arteries demonstrated angiographically. This paper highlights the incidence of renal artery damage following selective renal angiography and suggests that flush aortography provides adequate pre-operative information.